Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[Mindles$]

You could try phoning them tomorrow - they seem to work on Saturdays.

Hi

I rang from a phonebox this morning, i got cut off twice by their automated system while waiting to speak to somebody, after an hour i spoke to an advisor who said that i nonly need attend the medical as some people automatically bypass the system & go straight onto ESA - first i have heard of this, i have been stressing about coming off incapacity benefit for nearly a year!

Thanks for your advice. Much appreciated.

 

[Quartz]

Don't let the buggers grind you down.

 

[treelover]

saw this in the news today:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19370200


"mental function champions"?

This is very clever of them, these people will be 'zealots' or happy to get paid and will police the system so no 'fraudsters' get past, but of course, many 'genuine ' claimants will fail and ATOS, etc will point to their 'champions' input, etc..

 

[treelover]

It's open until 7th September, if anybody wants to contribute.

How many weeks is that then?, not very long for very sick people/people with cognitive issues, etc who want to contribute...

btw, there were over 550 submissions to the initial Welfare Reform Act White Paper under NL and Hutton and Murphy, majority very critical, etc, all were ignored..

 

[treelover]

The second paragraph of my above post can be used to bombard your MP.

already done it, social care being 'reconfigured(cut) as well...

 

[treelover]

I'm assuming this is a legally mandated process and the government has to carry it out. I wonder who will replace him? A government sockpuppet no doubt...

View attachment 22402View attachment 22403View attachment 22405

Sock puppets are benign, nice and fun, Tory/NL Placemen/Women are not...

 

[WouldBe]

There is no mention of the questionnaire on my appointment letter!

The regulations state that the health care professional is to read the ESA50 before commencing the WCA. They are going to find that a bit hard if they don't have a ESA50 to read.

 

[Mindles$]

The regulations state that the health care professional is to read the ESA50 before commencing the WCA. They are going to find that a bit hard if they don't have a ESA50 to read.

I do believe i am going straight into the support group *finger's crossed*

 

[WouldBe]

I do believe i am going straight into the support group *finger's crossed*

I would have thought the DWP could have made that decision without you having to see ATOS.

Hope all goes well for you.

 

[treelover]

'just re-read my medical assessment notes and I'm getting MAD!!
- it mentions that I couldn't fill in a questionnaire due to my mental health, but that I was questioned "IN DETAIL" by the healthcare professional....
The interview started at 10.03, ended 10.21 and took Miss Julie Simpson (registered nurse) until 10.26 to complete my report....
It stipulates I can brush my teeth, therefore I can learn new tasks.
It states I attended with a support worker (Student Social Worker) but that I am fine to get about alone? ARRRRGGGGHHHHHH'


from FB, INCREDIBLE...

 

[equationgirl]

'just re-read my medical assessment notes and I'm getting MAD!!
- it mentions that I couldn't fill in a questionnaire due to my mental health, but that I was questioned "IN DETAIL" by the healthcare professional....
The interview started at 10.03, ended 10.21 and took Miss Julie Simpson (registered nurse) until 10.26 to complete my report....
It stipulates I can brush my teeth, therefore I can learn new tasks.
It states I attended with a support worker (Student Social Worker) but that I am fine to get about alone? ARRRRGGGGHHHHHH'


from FB, INCREDIBLE...

18 minutes to conduct a 'thorough' assessment plus 5 minutes for the assessor to complete the paperwork. Abysmal.

 

[Greebo]

'just re-read my medical assessment notes and I'm getting MAD!!<snip>

from FB, INCREDIBLE...

Incredible if you've had no experience of the system. That type of report has all the lack of accuracy which some of VP's DLA medicals had.

 

[treelover]

''When David Cameron attends next week's Paralympics, no doubt smugly grinning from ear to ear as he celebrates this showcasing of disabled athletic talent, he deserves to be met with cries of "shame". He leads a government that is systematically attacking the rights of the sick and disabled. Their financial support is being confiscated; their ability to lead independent lives attacked; they are subjected to humiliating tests; they are demonised as "scroungers" and drains on the public purse; and abuse towards them is soaring. Keith Robertson, from the Scottish Disability Equality Forum, is warning that so-called welfare reform is leaving disabled people feeling "suicidal".


http://www.independent.co.uk/opinio...crush-them-8082036.html?origin=internalSearch


Fantastic article by Owen Jones on welfare reform, ATOS, etc

Oh, and rumour has it Purnell is back advising the LP...

no mention who created these 'reforms'

 

[treelover]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentis...isabled-anger-paralympic-sponsors?INTCMP=SRCH

Lots of media interest in the Atos Para_olympics protests, Indie, RT, Washington Post, Guardian,

 

[treelover]

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

'just re-read my medical assessment notes and I'm getting MAD!!
- it mentions that I couldn't fill in a questionnaire due to my mental health, but that I was questioned "IN DETAIL" by the healthcare professional....
The interview started at 10.03, ended 10.21 and took Miss Julie Simpson (registered nurse) until 10.26 to complete my report....
It stipulates I can brush my teeth, therefore I can learn new tasks.
It states I attended with a support worker (Student Social Worker) but that I am fine to get about alone? ARRRRGGGGHHHHHH'


from FB, INCREDIBLE...

That's the 2nd time I've seen someone declared able to learn new tasks because they can brush their teeth

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentis...isabled-anger-paralympic-sponsors?INTCMP=SRCH

Lots of media interest in the Atos Para_olympics protests, Indie, RT, Washington Post, Guardian,

BBC mentioned it, but showed a disabled person but didn't show protesters

 

[treelover]

Just read on another forum that a claimant who doesn't get their ESA form in time, is automatically found fit for work, loses all benefit and cannot reclaim for six months or has attended a WCA assessment. this is obscene and is clearly about saving money and intimidation, aihsb, the DWP employed a global management consultancy to work out strategies for cutting benefits, this is definitely one of them.

 

[WouldBe]

I would have thought that that would be a very good reason for them to appeal.

 

[treelover]

Any reports on the ATOS protests?, there are lots of them across the uk

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Just came across this on Black Triangle

I have just been through one of the assessments and was placed on the WRAG (Work Related Activity Group), I “scored” 15 points. As they put me in this group I requested a copy of the “medical” and a copy of the DWP’s “decision maker’s” reason for putting me in this group.

I received the “medical” assessment and a copy of the DWP’s ” decision maker’s” sheet but it contained no information as to why I was placed in the WRAG. After looking at the “medical” report I found that the doctor (yes, he was a real doctor) suggested that a return to work was not for me was not the thing to do and that I would not get any better over time, so the DWP’s ” decision maker” took it upon themselves to put me in the WRAG. The other problem with their decision is that I qualified for “Pension Credits” last November and I am not required to have these “Work related interviews”, the DWP also need to be challenged about their decisions as I am sure I am not the only person this has happened to.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Any reports on the ATOS protests?, there are lots of them across the uk

Amusing article here from before the protests

http://pcseuston.org.uk/atos-games-week-a-plot-thats-finally-been-uncovered/

 

[audiotech]

Leeds protest.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Northampton

25 – 30 disabled people, trade unions and supporters turned out to protest outside the Atos assessment centre in Northampton at lunch time today. Local disabled people who have had their lives ruined by ATOS’ cruel and flawed Work Capability Assessments shared their stories with local news broadcasters and press. Other disabled people sent messages of support but stayed away through just not being able to face the assessment building that causes them so much dread and misery. Protesters tried to deliver a gold medal for hypocrisy to Atos but were barred from the building by G4S security guards.

Oh well, at least G4S are working somewhere

 

[treelover]

25 people in a small place like that is good, bearing in mind, many many people would be too fearful to attend...

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Blimey. Sod the £100m the Government are paying for these assessments. Look how much other work they've got

Atos holds £3bn of government contracts

Controversial Paralympic sponsor has won work across Whitehall as well as running work capability assessments

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2...overnment-contracts-paralympics?newsfeed=true

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

25 people in a small place like that is good, bearing in mind, many many people would be too fearful to attend...

Especially those who haven't had assessments yet

 

[equationgirl]

Blimey. Sod the £100m the Government are paying for these assessments. Look how much other work they've got

Atos holds £3bn of government contracts

Controversial Paralympic sponsor has won work across Whitehall as well as running work capability assessments

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2...overnment-contracts-paralympics?newsfeed=true

 

[Frankie Jack]

Brother Bee has shared the news on today's protet in Manchester:
Great Demo outside ATOS Manchester, Lots of speakers, road blocked for 15 -20 minutes and cars coming from both directions just had to turn around, rather than pass..all going well with the blockade, even the Community Police who asked us to move off the road, finally Backed off until the 'Heavy boys in Blue' turned up and moved us back onto the pavements. We even had a singalong parodying Morecambe & Wise "Bring Me Sunshine" as follows:

Parody of Morecambe and Wise “Bring Me Sunshine”


"Bring us Sunshine, not your bile.

Bring us laughter, not Seig Heil!
In this world where we live, there should be more honestness
So much joy you could give, if you'd just accept you're shysters
Make us happy, through the years
Stop your fibbing, causing tears.
Let your funding be as clear as the sun from up above
Bring us hope, state the truth, then ‘eff off!

Bring us Sunshine, not your lies.
Bring us freedom, not your spies.
All that cash you have spent, telling us we're fit-for-work
How can we be content, when you say we only ‘shirk’
Ask the doctors, we're not wrong
Tho' you're singing a different song
Yes you are, just as bent, as a nine bob note is duff
ATOS Kills, all the sick, ain’t no loooooove!!"

Amended by StevieB and Charlie Prawn

The 40+ demonstrators enjoyed it...even the watching public clapped when it was over.) And if that wasn't enough after the miserable weekend weather..The Sun shone on the Righteous..

Aaaah..its good to be 61 and still alive and kicking..lol

 

[treelover]

40 on lunchtime event given the nature of being outside a surveillance site is great..

still think its a marginal interest on whats left of the left though..